Nov 20 1970
From The Space Library
Space News for this day. (1MB PDF)
USAF's X-24A lifting-body vehicle, piloted by Maj. Jerauld R. Gentry (USAF) in joint NASA-USAF program, successfully completed 20th flight at FRC. X-24A reached 21 300-m (70 000-ft) altitude and mach 1.33 in powered flight after launch from B-52 aircraft at 13 700-m (45 000-ft) altitude. Objectives were to obtain lateral directional derivatives, obtain longitudinal trim and lift-to-drag data with 40° upper flap, and determine effect of upper flap on approach and landing. (NASA Proj Off)
NASA launched two Nike-Apache sounding rockets. Rocket launched from WSMR carried Univ. of Pittsburgh experiment to study atmospheric composition. Mission did not meet minimum scientific requirements. Rocket launched from Eglin AFB, Fla., carried Univ. of Michigan experiment to study atmospheric structure. Rocket and instruments functioned satisfactorily. (SR list)
Ten MSC employees had applied for joint patent on device and process for recovering water and its constituent elements from lunar soil, NASA announced. Chemical process used hydrogen and solar energy to reduce iron oxides and produce water vapor, which could be electrolyzed to yield oxygen and hydrogen. Calculations showed process could produce 0.5 kg (1 lb) of water from 45.4 kg (100 lbs) of lunar soil; if iron oxides were first concentrated magnetically, yield increased to nearly 6.4 kg (14 lbs) of water from 45.4 kg (100 lbs) of lunar material. (NASA Release 70-202)
Washington Post editorial commented on Soviet Lunokhod I: "The appearance of this vehicle, as well as the landing on the moon and return to earth of Luna XVI, makes it clear that the Russians hope to regain some of the prestige they lost in the race to land men on the moon.... In terms of the American space program, this new success of the Russians should have little impact other than to persuade the administration and Congress not to cutback its funds any further. There is no logical reason for NASA to go like gang-busters in an effort to match the Russians in unmanned space exploration since the decision has already been made to proceed with a scaled down and more rational space program. The first big trophy in space activities went to the Russians, the most recent big one to the Americans, and it is reasonable to suspect that future ones will be divided between the two nations." (W Post, 11/20/70, A26)
Science editorial commented on comsats: The communications satellites have a variety of applications. . . One application that will probably be implemented fairly soon is aeronautical and ship communication. Radio works well on line of sight but is undependable at distances greater than 300 miles [483 km]. Many ships have been lost while radio operators were trying in vain to communicate their peril. Mid-ocean aeronautical navigation represents another growing need which could also be filled. Satellite enthusiasts point to other potential uses. One of these is Picture-phone, which now requires about 100 telephone circuits for a single two-way conversation. High-capacity; low-cost satellite circuits: would help to make feasible large-scale use of this device. Perhaps more distant but of great consequence would be exploitation of future inexpensive communications for use in educational television. Constructive applications of satellites are now a reality, and extension of technological potentials will have profound and global consequences." (Science, 11/20/70)
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